I'm Suz Murray, a New York based clown and performance artist. I returned to performing a couple years ago after a 20 year hiatus ... after some gender affirming surgery the spark returned behind my eyes and I've been happier than ever on stage (and off :)). I created my character and solo show KACHONK in October 2025 and have been making the rounds in the New York theater scene.

WHAT IS KACHONK?

KACHONK is a solo clown show that features the titular character who is a gender elusive, grey/beige being that moves loudly through the mundane grind of life searching for purpose and ease. Through a series of coffee gulps, menial tasks (given by a boss plucked from the audience), dream sequences, torrential downpours, nature show binges, and the loudest briefcase you've ever heard, KACHONK explores what it means to survive capitalism on this hyper-industrialized planet where all the birds (and everything else?) are dying.

KACHONK is my fully embodied clown. I sweat, I dance, I cry real deal tears, I run in place until I'm out of breath, I yell, I whisper, I bleed (fake blood)... I give it my absolute all. I've heard from audience members how cathartic it feels to watch me work from head to toe and fill a space with all of my energy, and all for the stupidest reasons. It's been such a joy to share this project with the world.

I've been so grateful to share excerpts as well as the hour long show at Brooklyn Comedy Collective, Life World and Brooklyn Art Haus. I'm hoping to do one last push of shows for the year before I start applying for grants and residencies, so I can eventually do a longer run down the road with a more polished evening length piece.

See more about the show on my instagram page or on my website . I've also had some lovely local press coverage:

Piece about Queer Clowning by Haidee Chu for The City Reporter

Connor Storrie Makes Me Cry + thoughts on Bushwick's KACHONK THE CLOWN SHOW by Hannah Rose Winsten

Noses in the Abstract by Aaron Tomey, Artist profile for Grime Square

KNOWING WHEN TO ASK FOR HELP

So far I have self-produced the show and always have kept ticket prices as low as possible to keep the show accessible. I've not turned any profits in doing the show, which was never a goal, but the costs have now gotten beyond what I can afford in the near future.

I will be performing 3 shows at the Philly Fringe this week (Sept 11, 12, 13) and one more FREE SHOW October 12th at Life World in Brooklyn. I'm going to need support in order to make these shows happen without going deeper and deeper into debt. I've made my show FREE in October because I just want to share it with anyone who wants to see! For Philly Fringe I am also offering Pay What You Can tickets ($5 online, or show up and you could pay $0!). I firmly believe that performance needs to be accessible to all.

WOULD YOU, COULD YOU, SUPPORT KACHONK?

I'm asking my wonderful community for support as I close out this year of KACHONK and go into grant writing and show building mode. I am looking to raise the funds to help me cover the following costs:

Philly Fringe • Sept 11, 12, 13 at Pig Iron Theater School

Theater & staff fees: $750 ($250/show)

Transportation to and from Philly (twice!) for tech and show days (gas, tolls ~$300)

Video and photo documentation of my show to have proof it really happened! ( ~ $300)

Brooklyn Free Show • Oct 12 at Life World

$300 Photo documentation to use for grant and residency applications

$500 Video documentation (multi camera) to use for grant and residency applications

$150 donation to LW because they give so much to the community and they are letting me have a free show in their space

$200 Lighting Designer

$200 Production support crew to setup and break down the space all in one day

That all adds up to $2700 to do 4 KACHONKS!

Maybe you've seen the show. Maybe you've heard about the show. Maybe you haven't seen or heard about the show but you believe in making things that are accessible for all. Every little bit will help in this endeavor as I'm currently self funding and producing this project in hopes that one day I'll be able to afford to pay a whole team that believe in the spirit of KACHONK. Thank you for reading my whole fundraiser story :) Thank you to everyone who has continued to support this project and give me the boost I've needed to keep it going.

No money to give? No problem!!

If you're unable to send any funds that's ok! If you'd like to help in some other way you can share this fundraiser or share info about the shows in Philly (<ticket and info linked) and New York (10/12 at 7pm at Life World in Brooklyn, NY).

THANK YOU ALL FOR KEEPING THIS CLOWN SO INSPIRED

:)

XO,

KACHONK / Suz Murray

All photos featured by Walter Wlodarczyk